Thomas Willett

Tom was born Sept. 1, 1937 in Asheville, North Carolina to Velma Morrow and James Roy Willett. He was the youngest of 6 children: Roy, Ruth, Howard, Martha, and Mary. He married Earlene Joan McDaniel in San Antonio, Texas on October 20, 1962.

He graduated High School at St. Edwards in Cleveland, Ohio in 1955 and attended San Antonio Junior College, San Antonio Texas.

In 1956 Tom enlisted in the Marine Corp and served 6 years, 3 years active and 3 years inactive.

Tom’s occupational history and skills were widely varied from stints at Southwestern Bell Telephone, advertising, manager of Dickies factory in Uvalde, and Personnel Director of the Tower of America’s Restaurant in 1968 with Frontier Enterprises which took hold of his future in the food service industry.

In or around 1973 with a small group of investors, Tom had his entrepreneurial spirit kindled in establishing the Skipper’s Galley Restaurant in Del Rio, Texas. The business was successful, and the group had plans to expand into Eagle Pass, Texas where another restaurant was built. Due to economic conditions in or around 1976 however, this did not come to fruition.

Afterwards, Tom and his family joined Earlene’s sister and brother-in-law in Washington State and purchased and operated Driftwood Acres Resort in the Wenatchee National Forest near Cle Elum for approximately 1-1/2 years after which Tom, Earlene and their children returned to Texas.

In or around 1978, Tom began employment with Whataburger Restaurants, Corpus Christi, Texas as an area supervisor and shortly thereafter left Operations and went into Whataburger’s construction department as Director of Construction where he remained for approximately 23 years and retired around 2002.

Tom cultivated and nurtured many meaningful relationships within the circle of his ultimate career. He took interest in those he worked with and endeavored to see them succeed. He created a sense of family among close friends. He was regarded as innovative and knowledgeable in his field.

Tom enjoyed the Outdoors. He taught his children to fish and hunt. Hunting, camping and boating with friends and family are treasured times. He was fascinated by the substance of the earthly world, and always endeavored to build from that substance, be it a “coon box” for river camping, restoration of his father-in-law’s redwood boat, the Rockport “cabin”, or a 200-seat restaurant. He enjoyed building things, and whatever his interest, he found something to build in order to compliment it.

In Tom’s retirement he was an avid golfer and served on some occasions on the board of the Live Oak Country Club in Rockport, Texas and even found that opportunity to improve the grounds and water system. He played golf with his children and inspired them to find the value in that activity.

Tom is survived by his wife, Earlene Willett; his son Mark Earl and his wife Maryanne residing in Austin, Texas; his daughter Pamela Beth, also residing in Austin, Texas; Grandson, Alex; and numerous nieces and nephews.

A funeral Mass will take place on Saturday, January 12, 2013 at St. Thomas More Catholic Church located at 10205 Ranch Road 620 North, Austin, TX 78726 at 10:00 a.m. with a reception afterwards at the church.

Condolences may be made at www.cookwaldenchapelofthehills.com